Tahfiz tragedy a nightmare for firemen, residents

The tragedy was described as the worst after the fire at Sekolah Agama Rakyat Taufiqiah Al-Khairiah Al-Halimiah or better known as Pondok Pak Ya in Kampung Padang Lumut, Yan, Kedah, 28 years ago.

Firefighter Osman Aziz, 25, said his team was the first to arrive at the location when the blaze was spreading fast at about 5.40 am.

"Upon reaching the scene, we could hear cries for help from a nearby building and we were shocked to find a man carrying a child attempting to get down from the building and I was ordered to save the children trapped in the building," he told Bernama here on Thursday.

Osman said firemen had to fight against the flame and thick smoke in the dark.

Wearing a breathing apparatus and holding a torchlight, Osman said he could only say a prayer when he saw the charred bodies of students pilled up on one another in the rooms later.

"My heart sank as I also remembered my younger brother is studying in a tahfiz school in Marang, Terengganu," he said.

Meanwhile senior fireman Suhaimi Abd Shukor who headed the operation told Bernama, the incident was the saddest event he had ever witnessed in his 31 years as a fireman.

Suhaimi was also involved in several rescue operations such as the collapse of the Highland Tower in 1993 and landslide which killed six people at Taman Hillview in Ampang in 2002.

Meanwhile a resident identified as Syazwani, 25, said in the incident she rushed to the centre after being alerted by her neighbours.

"My house was near the tahfiz but I was held back by the fire as I heard cries for help while many residents tried to help but were turned back by the huge blaze," she said.

"Even though I did not lose any loved ones, I pray and hope the affected families would be brave to face the tragedy.

Another resident identified as Hafiz said it was eerily quiet now without the sound of tahfiz students around the Datuk Keramat Recreational Park.

A Bernama observation found many people were still visiting the location to express their sympathy and hand out contributions.